Quick report
Dug in three places.
- 9270 ft, West facing, 165 cm of snow (5' 5"), several ECTN's in the new snow but they weren't as clean as last time I was here 3 days ago. The ECT did not break on the November facets.
- 9500 ft, N facing, 180 cm of snow (5' 11"), November facets 4F hardness and 30 cm (1 ft) above the ground
- 10,310 ft, NW facing, 190 of snow (6' 3"), November facets 4F- hardness and 45 cm above the ground. (photo and profile below)
It's becoming a lot of work to dig to the ground which says something. Stability in the new snow has really improved and it's not breaking as much in tests. The only issue I would worry about with the new snow is fresh slabs of wind drifted snow.
As for triggering a slide on the PWL of November facets - it's unlikely near and below treeline. The only place I could see triggering a slide on this layer is above treeline in the alpine zone on a slope loaded heavily by winds with a thin area near some rocks. The likelihood of that happening is going down quickly too.
Photo below shows some of the low elevation drifting. I didn't find the same drifting higher at 10,000 ft.
Below treeline on slopes with no wind loading, the danger is LOW